Civitella Marittima, a beautiful medieval village in southern Tuscany

don't miss this amazing village!

Civitella Paganico is a collection of villages located in the valley of the Ombrone River, southern Tuscany and Civitella Marittima is the main village of this charming area. The village is located on the top of a hill overlooking the Maremma plain and can be reached from the freeway 223 that connects Grosseto and Siena.

[Photo Credits: Davide Mandolini]

It was already inhabited by the Etruscans, although the current settlement dates back to around the year 1000 AD. It was the main centre of the Aldobrandeschi family, later occupied by the Republic of Siena until the mid-16th century, when it became part of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.

[Photo Credits: Davide Mandolini][Photo Credits: Davide Mandolini]

It boasts medieval walls built on the remains of pre-existing Etruscan walls. Only one of the original gates is remained and it is called Porta Piccina. Within the religious architectures we can mention the Church of Santa Maria in Montibus, which is the parish church of the village; the Oratorio della Misericordia, built in the sixteenth century and fully restored in the eighteenth century; the Church of St. Materno, just outside the town and dating back to 1143.

[Photo Credits: Davide Mandolini][Photo Credits: Davide Mandolini]

Within the civil architectures we can mention the Franceschini palace, built during the fifteenth century, in the past the Town Hall; Palazzo Pecci, dating back to the sixteenth century; the Well of Civitella Marittima and Scale Sante (Sacred Stairs), that according to the legend are the place of the apparition of the patron saints of the village who saved the inhabitants from a terrible plague. If you visit Civitella Marittima in the summer you can take part to the event "Civitella in Music," a mix of culture, food, lot of artists and progressive rock! Have you ever been there?

[Photo Credits: Davide Mandolini][Photo Credits: Davide Mandolini]

Many thanks to Davide Mandolini for this wonderful photos! You can find more on his Facebook page "Isoland Fotografia" If you have special pics too you can send them to us to be published.